Monopods are a great way to help stabilize your camera without carrying around a bulky piece of equipment. A good one can be expensive, but you can build one yourself and save a bunch of money.

DIY magazine MAKE offers a quick solution that you can make out of a broom handle. Here's what you'll need:

Broom handle, or 1"-diameter wood dowel

Hex nut, ¼"-20 thread

Hanger bolt, ¼"-20 thread

Spiral nail, 8"

You'll also need some basic tools like a saw, electric drill, hammer, wrench, and sandpaper. This may seem like a lot for a little monopod, but the project should be pretty easy. All you're really doing is mounting a threaded screw on a broom handle so you can easily attach your camera and stabilize it while you shoot. If you've got the tools handy, you should be able to knock this one out pretty fast. Alternatively, this string "tripod" is a cheaper and smaller solution that requires less work (although it's likely to be less effective).